Cubs and new star Kyle Tucker file for arbitration
The Cubs and Kyle Tucker did not come to an agreement on a salary for 2025, Tucker’s last year of arbitration eligibility and first with the Cubs, before the deadline Thursday, a source confirmed to the Sun-Times.
They exchanged figures, with the Cubs filing at $15 million and Tucker’s representatives filing at $17.5 million.
he Cubs traditionally have taken a file-and-trial approach to arbitration, even though teams and players are free to reach an agreement before the date of their scheduled hearing. The Cubs did, however, make an exception with catcher Willson Contreras after the lockout in 2022, when arbitration hearings were held in-season.
When the Cubs acquired Tucker, 27, from the Astros, they knew he would garner the highest 2025 salary of any of their arbitration-eligible players. That figure, whether the arbitration panel sides with the team or the player, will still be a bargain compared to what Tucker is on track to earn in free agency after this season.
Tucker, a three-time All-Star, was among the top 10 hitters in OPS (.993) last season. A fractured shin sidelined him for three months, but he returned in September and put together his most productive month at the plate.
After trading for Tucker, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer expressed interest in keeping Tucker “for a long time,” and Tucker said he’d be open to extension talks.
The Cubs agreed to terms on salaries to avoid arbitration with left-hander Justin Steele ($6.55 million) and relievers Nate Pearson ($1.35 million) and Eli Morgan ($950,000).
Justin Steele ($6.55 million)
Last year, eligible for arbitration for the first time, Steele settled with the Cubs at $4 million. With another year of experience, and after backing up his breakout 2023 performance, the pay raise made perfect sense.
And though Steele, 29, didn’t match the accolades of the year before, when he was an All-Star and finished fifth in Cy Young voting, his pitch usage continued to evolve. Steele owned a 3.07 ERA, almost identical to the year before. Though he landed on the IL twice, for a strained hamstring and tendinitis in his elbow, Steele still made 24 starts.
Nate Pearson ($1.35 million)
The Cubs acquired Pearson, 28, from the Blue Jays at the trade deadline with more than just the second half of the season in mind. He remains under club control through 2026.
He ingratiated himself to his new club quickly, posting a 2.73 ERA while performing in both high-leverage multi-inning outings.
Though the former first-round pick converted from starter to reliever in the Blue Jays’ system, the Cubs were open-minded about Pearson’s future role when they targeted him.
Eli Morgan ($950,000)
The Cubs traded for Morgan, 28, less than two months ago. With the Guardians last year, shoulder and elbow inflammation limited Morgan to 32 appearances. But, leaning on his slider more than ever before, he recorded a career-best 1.93 ERA.
This was Morgan’s first year in the arbitration system.
Cubs trade for Festa
The Cubs also acquired right-handed reliever Matt Festa from the Rangers for cash considerations. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, they designated utility player Miles Mastrobuoni for assignment.
Festa, 31, spent much of last season in Triple-A but made one major-league appearance for the Mets (four earned runs in one inning) and 18 for the Rangers (4.37 ERA).
The Rangers designated Festa for assignment on Monday.